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Welcome to
our 3rd Annual Youth Bluegrass Boot Camp at Bill Monroe's
Bean Blossom Bluegrass Festival, "the oldest, continuous
running bluegrass festival in the world!" Our previous Boot
Camps have been a huge success.Last year we had 48 enthusiastic
and talented participants ranging from 6-17 years of age. |
| The Youth Bluegrass Boot Camp
has fast become the newest tradition at Bean Blossom and one
we hope to continue for many years to come. If you have a strong
desire to learn not only how to play the music but also such
things as the history of the music, vocals and harmonies, how
to take care of your instruments, how to work a microphone and
stage presence, jamming etiquette, and much more, then this is
the camp for you. We are seeking students 6-18 years of age who
are interested in learning a great American tradition - playing
bluegrass music. |
| What Students Can Expect: |
| This year we are
going to expand and improve on the Boot Camp. There will be more
instructors, more small groups instruction, more pickin' and
jammin' and more importantly... more fun! |
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The camp will begin on Tuesday,
June 17, 2008 and run through mid-day on Thursday, June 19. All
students will perform on the historic Main Stage on Thursday.
The entire group of students will learn 4 songs for this final
performance, and students who come into the camp with more advanced
abilities may learn 1-2 more songs to perform. We will learn
traditional bluegrass music focusing on the music of Bill Monroe
and Jimmy Martin.
There will be many sessions of small group instruction in groups
organized by instruments with instructors who are known to be
good at their trade as well as good with children of all ages.
You can locate a tentative camp schedule on line at www.beanblossom.com.
These small groups will all learn the same songs and will meet
in a few large group sessions to put the entire group together
for the final performance.
All students will also get a guided tour of the Bill Monroe Bluegrass
Museum and learn about Mr. Monroe's contributions to bluegrass
music as well as a lot of history of the music. There will be
vocal sessions for students interested in singing various parts
in our final performance, a session on instrument care, and much,
much more. |
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Cost:
The camp will cost $35.00 per student.
If there are two or more children from the same family attending
the camp, the cost will be reduced to $30.00 per child. Due to
the recent success and limited number of spaces we will not
be able to allow students to register on site. So, the sooner
you register... the better. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: APRIL
1, 2008 or the first fifty students - whichever occurs
first! Certain groups fill up quickly. We will only put 6-7 students
in a group in order to keep student/instructor ratio low.
This camp fee includes over 15 hours of instruction
for the two and a half days of camp. Instruction includes both
small group and whole group instruction by professional instructors.
It also includes an Official Boot Camp T-shirt and other goodies.
Lunch will be provided on Tuesday and Wednesday of the camp,
but other meals throughout the camp will be on your own.
The Central Indiana Bluegrass Music Association
is willing to help sponsor children who may not otherwise be
able to afford the camp. If you are in need of scholarship help,
please contact Sarah Wasson at the number or e-mail below.
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How to Register:
You can register by printing the registration
form and mailing it to:
Youth Bluegrass Boot Camp
Bill Monroe Music Park
5163 SR 135 N
Bean Blossom, IN 46160
Phone Number: 812-988-6422 or 800-414-4677
Payment must accompany your registration form.
Method of Payment Accepted: Check, MasterCard, VISA or Discover;
PayPal. Please make checks payable to: Youth Bluegrass Boot
Camp
You can also register on-line at www.beanblossom.com and
use Paypal for the registration fee. |
Ability Levels:
When filling in your ability level
on the registration form, please use the following guidelines:
Brand New - these students know nothing about their instrument
or very little. They may not know how to form chords or switch
cords well. They may have started to learn a little bit of a
break but play it very slowly and with little confidence. These
are students who are just getting started.
Beginning - these students must know a few chords, however
may have trouble changing in time. These students may know how
to pick out a simple lead on an instrument, but may not be quite
it time or be able to play up to tempo. Fiddle players in this
category may know simple basic tunes but know little about a
chop or know little about bluegrass tunes.
Intermediate - these students must know how to play the
basic chords and change in time. They should be able to have
a basic knowledge of breaks and be able to play a simple break
up to tempo. Fiddle players in this group should have knowledge
of a few bluegrass songs and understand how to play backup to
other instruments.
Advanced - these students must know how to play chords
and change in time. They should also be able to pick out a break
to a few songs that is more than just the melody line. It will
be thought in advance that these children will be able to pick
up on breaks quickly.
We will base our groups on what you mark on your form, but we
reserve the right to move a student to another group after the
instructor has worked with the student if we feel it will be
in the student's best interest. |
| Student Expectations: |
- All students will be expected to attend all
instructional sessions. Students will not be allowed to perform
on the Thursday stage performance if they have not attended the
sessions.
- Students will be expected to attend all other
group sessions held during the camp from 9:00 a.m. until we take
the break for supper. The things taught in all whole group sessions
are fun and/or will help with the stage performance on Thursday.
- Students will be expected to listen to instructors
and make their best attempt to play as the instructor suggests.
- Give it your best and have fun!
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| Parent Expectations: |
- Parents are welcome to attend any session, but they may not
interfere with instruction.
- Help students get to the first session on time and then pick
them up again at the supper break.
- Support the instructors and enjoy the camp!
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Instruments:
It is best if you bring your own instrument.
However, if you want to learn we may be able to have a few instruments
on hand at the camp. You will need to contact us prior to registering
to find out if we have an instrument that you can use. |
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Items You May Want to Bring:
In addition to normal camping gear and clothing,
you may want to bring the following:
- Tape recorder, batteries, and tape to record
breaks to learn.
- Flashlight (if attending volunteer sessions
after supper break)
- A folding chair to take to sessions.
- Picks, capo, rosin, extra strings - anything
you need for your instrument
- Tuner if you have one
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More Information:
If you need further information, please contact
one of us:
Gaby Zimmerman, Bill Monroe Music Park , gaby@beanblossom.com
or phone:
800-414-4677
Sarah Wasson, Camp Director, swasson@setel.com
or phone: 606-663-0600
When e-mailing, please put "Boot Camp"
in the subject line.
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WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR SPONSOR - FIRST
QUALITY MUSIC - FOR HELPING SUPPORT THE YOUTH OF BLUEGRASS MUSIC.
WE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE CENTRAL
INDIANA BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE
CAMP
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